The October Eselfontein MTB Festival and Trail Run was such a success this year it raised more than R130, 000 for local Ceres charities, R30, 000 more than hoped.
According to Janene Malherbe, fifth-generation grower of the Tru-Cape apple and pear farm Eselfontein, in the Warm Bokkeveld area of Ceres in the Western Cape, the market atmosphere and entertainment offering this year meant that participants and supporters spent longer at the farm and spent more money at the vendors who also donated 10% of their proceeds towards the local schools and homes for the aged.
“The Eselfontein MTB is the most affordable MTB on the race calendar and also features some of the most challenging single track and downhill descents that always stretch riders to their limits,” Malherbe says.
In the October 14, one-day event, Jacques Steyn came first in the 40km MTB in 02:34:45, Bob Schulling in 02:38:24 and Giuseppo Pennisi in 02:44:16.
Suzanne Meyer-Nell was the fasted female completing the 40km in 03:07:31, followed by Carla Du Toit in 03:16:15 and Nienke Mostert in 03:48:39.
Patrick Phillander was the fastest male runner in the gruelling 15km trail run in 01:16:07 followed, seconds later, by Marqhuin Smit in 01:16:22 and Ryno Adams in 01:20:32.
The first three fastest women were Daniel Feldman clocking 01:20:04, Arnosjca Santana in 01:30:20 and Chrisna Du Toit in 01:30:42.
In the Eselfontein three-stage MTB which included a perilous night ride, Jean de Villiers completed the three stages in 07:08:26 while Esther Lategan, the fasted female solo rider in the three-stage, achieved a time of 09:47:44. The Breedenet team of Matthew Keyser and Charl-Pierre Esterhuyse, although a late partnership, took first place in completing the three stages within 06:45:59 and also beat last year’s record of 07:20:31 achieving a bonus prize of R30, 000.
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest exporter of South African apples and pears, many of which come from the Ceres valley, into more than 104 countries, says its support of the Eselfontein MTB is in line with healthy lifestyle events that also raise funds for local charities like the schools and homes for the aged to which the Eselfontein MTB has contributed R130, 000.
“Tru-Cape congratulates Deon and Janene Malherbe on another successful event,” Managing Director Roelf Pienaar ends.
by 